Improvement in braces



E. C. PAGE. Braces.

No. 219,011. Patented Aug. 26,1879.

N-PETERS, FHOTLITHOGRPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED Sti'nrns yPATENT OFFICE EUGENIA C. PAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRACES.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent N0. 219,011. dated August26, 1879; application iiled l February 11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENIA C. PAGE, of New York city, county, andState, have invented a certain new and Improved Brace; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesamef reference being had to the accompanying draw'- ings, forming partof this specification, in which- Figure l is a rear elevation, and Fig.27a side elevation, showing the application of my improved brace; andFig. 3 is a plan view.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction ofshoulder-braces, so as to render them more efficient, and at the sametime more comfortable` to the wearer, than heretofore; and to this endthe invention consists in the brace constructed, connected, and renderedadjustable in the manner hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the drawings, A A are twov pieces 0f cloth, suitably padded, lined,and hemmed or bound, each being about thirty-one inches (eX- tremelength) along the line a b, twenty-five inches along the line a c, andseven anda half inches along the line d e, or of such approxi-` matelysimilar dimensions and proportions as shall adapt them to the wearer andenable.

them to perform the functions herein described. These two partsl areprovided with vertical stiffening-pieces w fw, of whalebone or itsequivalent, secured in place in the usual manner. j

The extremities at m n are provided with eyelets and strings, or theequivalents thereof, for adjusting and fastening them together, and theextremities o are provided with eyelets and strings, or clasps, buckles,safetypins, or other convenient adjustable fastenings.

The extremities m n of each piece are adapted to be fastened together toform an armhole, H. The wide parts cross each other at the back of thewearer, and the long narrow ends pass around to the front side, and arefastened together over the 'stomach and beneath the breasts.

When properly adjusted, .as shown in Fig.

2, the article thus constructed is intended to hold the shoulders back,while the stifteningpieces support the shoulder-blades and hold them'inposition, and the effect of the whole device is to straighten the back,expand the chest, and preserve and develop the health of the wearer.

So far as above described, however, the device has already been put onthe market, and is not claimed by me independently of the improvements,the character and need of which I will now set forth.

In the use of the device above described, experience has demonstratedthat byreason of the absence of a proper support to the two parts A Abehind the back, and of their moving independently of each other at thatpoint, and having practically no sufficient limits to such movements,the device does not properly perform the functions for which it isdesigned, but fails to support the shoulder-blades and shoulders to thedesired extent, and is liable to become uncomfortable to the wearer. Ihave therefore improved it by connecting the said two parts at thepoints where they cross behind the back, and by making such connectionadjustable, whereby the proper support is given to the shoulders andshoulder-blades, and the device can be better adjusted to the person,and when once adjusted will maintain its position more perfectly thanwhen not thus connected and adjusted.

The connection and adjustment may be accomplished by means of a seriesof eyelets, t t t, and cords at the upper edge, and a similar series, ofr, at the lower edge, of each part A A', about four or five inches fromthe armholes, as shown in, the drawings, or by any equivalent lacing orother connection that will answer the purpose.

When the two parts are connected they mutually hold each other in placeand as sist each other in the performance of their work. When theconnection is extended to the bottom as well as the top of the twoparts, it serves to hold the straps that pass around in front properlyin position and keep them from becoming uncomfortable to the wearer 5and when the connection is made ad justable the same device can bereadily adaptled to Wearers of different sizes and form s, lind can beadjusted at any time to more ef ciently answer its purpose.

As a further improvement, I pad those portions of the brace that come incontact with the front part ofthe shoulder of the wearer, asseen at p p,for the purpose of rendering,` the brace more comfort-able andpreventing chafing of the person at those points.

I do not claim the parts A'A/when not connected together at the back 5but Whitt I do claim as my invention is- The brace consisting of thebroad crossstraps A Af, provided with arm-holes, and connected at theback: at the points or angles Q2 t, and rendered adjustable at the upperangie by means of eyelets and strings, or other equivalent devices,substantially :is described, for the purpose speced.

EUGENIA C. PAGE.

Witnesses:

GEO. D. HANKINS, R. H. CRAWFORD.

